The Child Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A moody babysitter takes a job only to discover her new charge has a very exclusive, reanimated friend group who really don’t like outsiders.

🍿 The Child: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A New Governess in a Secluded Home

The film introduces Alicianne Del Mar, a young woman embarking on a new governess position at the isolated Nordon household. Her arrival is immediately fraught with eeriness, as her car breaks down and she receives a cryptic warning about the Nordon family from an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Whitfield. Upon reaching the dilapidated house, Alicianne meets the peculiar inhabitants: the unfriendly Mr. Nordon, his quiet and awkward son Len, and the aloof eleven-year-old Rosalie. Early incidents hint at the family’s strange dynamics and Rosalie’s unsettling nature. Alicianne is startled when a jack-in-the-box next to Rosalie’s bed suddenly springs open on its own. Further adding to the morbid atmosphere, Mr. Nordon recounts a disturbing story about poisoned boy scouts during dinner, which he and Rosalie find amusing, much to Len’s visible discomfort.

Rosalie’s Dark Secret and Sinister Abilities

As Alicianne settles in, she begins to observe Rosalie’s increasingly strange behavior, particularly her frequent, solitary visits to a nearby cemetery. She also notices that objects mysteriously move whenever the child becomes angry or upset, suggesting an unnatural power at play. Alicianne later discovers Rosalie’s sketchbook, which is filled with unsettling and sinister drawings. The horrifying truth eventually becomes clear: Rosalie possesses telekinetic abilities, which she uses to reanimate corpses from the local cemetery. These reanimated figures, whom she chillingly refers to as her ‘friends,’ are rewarded with small animals and are compelled to carry out Rosalie’s vengeful desires.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alicianne Del Mar (Laurel Barnett): The newly hired housekeeper who slowly uncovers the sinister supernatural powers of her young charge, Rosalie.
• Rosalie Nordon (Rosalie Cole): The malevolent eleven-year-old girl who possesses telekinetic abilities and commands flesh-eating zombies to exact revenge for her mother’s death.
• Nordon (Frank Janson): Rosalie’s unsettling and morbid father who displays a bizarre demeanor and enables his daughter’s disturbing behavior.
• Len Nordon (Richard Hanners): Rosalie’s awkward and embarrassed older brother who eventually allies with Alicianne against his sister’s terrifying powers.
• Mrs. Whitfield (Ruth Ballan): The eccentric elderly neighbor who warns Alicianne about the Nordon family’s strange ways before becoming a victim of Rosalie’s wrath.
• Creatures (Various Actors): The reanimated, flesh-eating corpses from the cemetery that serve as Rosalie’s ‘friends’ and carry out her brutal revenge.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Rosalie Nordon: “My friends are going to come and hurt you both! Hurt you bad!” – Rosalie ominously threatens Alicianne and Len, revealing her control over the zombie ‘friends’.
• Rosalie Nordon: “DONUTS! I HATE DONUTS!” – Rosalie defiantly exclaims her dislike for the breakfast offering, a moment noted by fans for its absurd delivery.
• Rosalie Nordon: “I promise you, they’ll pay.” – Said by Rosalie at her mother’s grave, signifying her vengeful motivations for reanimating the dead.
• Rosalie Nordon: “They do me favors.” – Rosalie coldly explains her relationship with the flesh-eating zombies she controls, highlighting their subservience to her will.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Child Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘The Child’ expecting some cheesy 70s horror, and it absolutely delivered, but not always in the way I thought! The first thing that hit me was the soundtrack – it’s this incredibly unsettling, almost chaotic piano and synth mix that just screams ‘something is wrong here.’ It honestly added so much to the already weird atmosphere. I found myself laughing at some of the dialogue and the obvious dubbing, but then I’d get genuinely creeped out by Rosalie or the foggy cemetery scenes. The climax at the old mill was surprisingly intense; it really shifted gears into full-blown zombie terror, and I was on the edge of my seat despite the low-budget effects. It’s definitely one of those ‘so bad it’s good’ movies that somehow manages to be genuinely effective too. If you like obscure, atmospheric horror with a quirky edge, give it a shot!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 1970s low-budget horror and grindhouse cinema.”
  • “Viewers interested in the ‘evil child’ or ‘killer kid’ horror subgenre (e.g., *The Bad Seed*, *Bloody Birthday*).”
  • “Those who appreciate atmospheric, dreamlike, or surreal horror films that transcend technical limitations.”
  • “Zombie movie enthusiasts looking for unique, lesser-known entries beyond mainstream titles.”
  • “Cult film collectors and cinephiles who appreciate unique and flawed cinematic experiences.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic depictions of violence and mutilation (implied and some shown, often with dated practical effects).”
  • “Disturbing themes involving a malevolent child with supernatural powers.”
  • “Implied animal cruelty (kittens fed to zombies).”
  • “Slow pacing in early sections, which some viewers may find tedious.”
  • “Highly inconsistent technical quality, including poor dubbing, choppy editing, and a dissonant, often overpowering soundtrack.”

Professional Reviews

• Critic’s Picks: “While undoubtedly a product of its low-budget 70s origins, ‘The Child’ delivers an unexpectedly potent dose of atmospheric horror. Its technical shortcomings, from clunky dubbing to erratic editing, somehow enhance its bizarre, dreamlike quality. The film builds a genuinely unsettling dread, particularly as its ‘creepy kid’ narrative subtly morphs into a surprising zombie siege. A cult curio that works better than it has any right to.
• Indie Film Journal: “‘The Child’ is a fascinating, if flawed, blend of supernatural and zombie horror. Its distinct, unsettling ambiance, punctuated by a uniquely dissonant score, creates a pervasive sense of unease. Despite amateurish performances and glaring continuity errors, the film’s raw, unfiltered weirdness makes it a compelling watch for genre aficionados. It’s a testament to how creative vision can overcome significant budgetary constraints to carve out a memorable, albeit odd, experience.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by the film’s unique, dreamlike atmosphere despite its technical flaws.: Many appreciate its raw, low-budget charm and the surprisingly effective blend of ‘evil child’ and zombie subgenres. The bizarre, often jarring, musical score and the unsettling visuals are frequently mentioned as standout elements that contribute to its cult appeal.

Overall Consensus: ‘The Child’ is a highly atmospheric and uniquely strange low-budget 70s horror film, beloved by cult fans for its unsettling mood, quirky flaws, and surprising blend of creepy kid and zombie elements.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “All of the dialogue for the movie was dubbed in post-production, contributing to its often disjointed and surreal audio quality.”
• “Despite being set in the 1930s, several anachronisms appear, such as 1970s hairstyles, clothing, and modern electrical lines, highlighting the film’s low budget.”
• “The film was shot on ‘heads and tails’ of film stock, meaning leftover or incomplete reels, which were sometimes stored in an ice box until funds were available for developing.”
• “Producer Harry Novak acquired the film and made a profit from its distribution, but the director Robert Voskanian and producer Robert Dadashia reportedly saw no financial gain.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Child?

Finding the 1977 horror film ‘The Child’ (also known as ‘Kill and Go Hide’) can be a journey for genre enthusiasts. While not widely available on major streaming services for subscription, it has been released on physical media like DVD and Blu-ray by cult film distributors such as Something Weird Video and Arrow Video. You can often find it available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. For those seeking obscure or public domain versions, the film has also been known to appear on video-sharing platforms like YouTube.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Child, you might like these similar films:

• Night of the Living Dead (1968): Features a similar siege climax where characters barricade themselves against a relentless zombie horde, a direct influence on ‘The Child’s’ finale.
• The Bad Seed (1956): Explores the ‘evil child’ subgenre with a seemingly innocent young girl possessing a malevolent nature and a propensity for violence.
• Carrie (1976): Focuses on a socially isolated young woman with burgeoning psychic powers who eventually uses them for violent revenge against those who wronged her.
• Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972): A low-budget, eccentric zombie horror film from the same era that shares a similar amateurish charm and focus on reanimated corpses.
• Orphan (2009): A modern horror film centered around a sinister and manipulative child antagonist, exploring the psychological dread an ‘evil child’ can inflict on a family.

🛒 The Child Related Products

• “The Child” (Special Edition Blu-ray): Experience the cult classic ‘The Child’ like never before with this newly restored special edition Blu-ray. Features a pristine transfer from the original negative, audio commentary by the director, a behind-the-scenes documentary on its unique production challenges, and interviews with cast and crew.
• Vintage ‘The Child’ Movie Poster (Replica): A high-quality reproduction of the original theatrical poster for ‘The Child,’ showcasing its eerie, unsettling artwork. Printed on durable, archival paper, perfect for framing.
• Creepy Kid’s Playthings: The Horror Anthology (E-book): An e-book collection of classic and contemporary short stories featuring malevolent children, inspired by films like ‘The Child,’ ‘The Bad Seed,’ and ‘Village of the Damned.’ Dive into the unsettling subgenre of ‘evil kids.’
• Zombie Survival Guide: Backyard Edition (Board Game): A tabletop strategy game where players must defend their secluded farmhouse from relentless waves of zombies. Features resource management, barricade building, and character abilities reminiscent of the film’s climax.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Child features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Theme: Rosalie’s Lullaby” – performed by Original Motion Picture Score
• “Cemetery Whispers” – performed by Original Motion Picture Score
• “The Old Mill Siege” – performed by Original Motion Picture Score
• “Night of the Reanimated” – performed by Original Motion Picture Score
• “Disturbing Echoes” – performed by Original Motion Picture Score

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

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